The idea of acting appealed to Ismail Sharaf since before he can remember. “I had been designing for years and felt I had so much to offer in acting” he said. Ismail, who made his feature debut in Al Sayad, talks to us about his workshop, Ad designing and his passion of becoming a film star and winning the DG best actor award...

Tell us about yourself, who is Ismail Sharaf?
My beginnings were back in 1989 when I owned a carving and handcraft workshop up until the year 2000. Then I started my work as a graffiti designer at Tarek Nour Advertising Company. I later moved on to designing, writing and directing ads at the same company and after a while I moved to a French Ad company.

When did you feel that you want to start an acting career?
Well, after my work in designing and writing the ads, I felt that I have potential and so much to offer - I began studying script writing and directing at the cinema palace. In 2005 I started to write some scripts and stories but unfortunately didn’t have any chance to present it to any producer as it was quite difficult because I didn’t know anyone and no one knew me or heard about me. Until I met one of my friends who was an ads director and he read my scripts and admired them and started directing one of them which was a short comedy series. He offered me a chance as well and then gave me another role in another long series, until I met director Ahmed Medhat who offered me a great role in Al Sayad Series and from here my true start in acting began.

What about your last series, Al Sayad?
I love this series not only because it is my true start in acting but also because it is a very good series from all aspects. All actors were just great and love what they are doing and that showed on screen. Yousef El Sherif and Ahmed Safwat helped me a lot and gave me a lot of advice as they wanted all the cast to be as good as possible. Of course director Ahmed Medhat was the maestro for the piece of art; he is a true leader and knows what he wants and what he is doing.

Who is your idol in acting?
Dr. Yehia El Fakharany, he is a genius, his spontaneity and talent are enormous, you feel like he is not acting and that he is truly any character he acts. He is an idol to be followed.

How do you find Cinema nowadays, and do you have any plans concerning Cinema?
Any true actor loves cinema, and my dream is to act in cinema. I hope that cinema directors see me and discover my talent. There are a lot of talents everywhere who just need good directors to take their hands and give them a chance.

A final word to Dear Guest?
What Dear Guest do yearly with regards to honoring the best of actors and singers is simply magnificent - because the vote is so reliable and has gained a lot of credibility, no courtesies and that’s why I hope to be one day among the winners in Dear Guest festival as all the stars are keen to win this award.